"Better, I think. There was one side effect I was not delighted about, it made it - hard to wake up all the way? I am not sure if that is normal. But 448 helped. I should take her outside probably?" 

"Probably. I'll make you some breakfast." Breakfast for herself is probably obviated by the three custard cakes she already ate. "I can ask Dree if that's normal? I should probably check back about finding someone who can help with - the thing," she's forgotten the word Leareth used for it, "and I don't think she had plans to drop in today? ...You really need to change into clean clothes. What did you get on them?" 

"It turns out the 'popcorn' food is messy. I might need to wash the bedsheets as well." 

Leareth takes 448 out into the yard. 

448 likes being in the yard! She sniffs things.

In that case Leareth is happy to stay outside with her for a bit and wander around. It's quiet and peaceful and the sun is pleasant on his face. 

He's barefoot and he totally does have shoes but Melody just sighs and doesn't interrupt. She drains the last of her tea and - it's probably late enough that Dree is at work? - reaches out with a Mindtouch. :Good time?: 

Dree is actually still in bed, but she's awake. :Try me in half an hour?:

Oops. :Yes, of course: She should learn how to read the local timekeeping devices and find out what Dree's actual hours of availability are, but that can wait until it's a good time to ask Dree questions. 

In the meantime, she puts more dog food in the bowl on the floor and then makes toast with cheese on it for Leareth. 

Leareth is back in a few minutes later, looking relaxed and happy. And also kind of muddy. He's leaving footprints. 

"Gods! Stop there, I'll grab a towel or something. 448 too, I don't want her tracking mud around either. Can you please wear shoes next time you want to go on an entire walk outside." 

- Leareth flinches and goes very still. 

Wow she is not having a socially graceful morning. "Leareth, it's all right. I'm not angry. I just don't want there to be mud on the floor. It's all right." 

Leareth KNOWS THAT, his mind is just being stupid. He nods, a bit shakily, and tries to remember the command he wants. "Sit," he tells 448. 

She sits! She is looking a little anxiously between Melody and Leareth.

Oh no. Poor 448. 

Leareth sits down next to her and pets her as reassuringly as he can manage while his heart is still racing. 

Melody is back shortly with a towel. She wets one side of it in the sink and comes over to squat beside Leareth. "I'm sorry I raised my voice. Feet, please?" 

A minute of petting his fluffy dog has Leareth most of the way to calm again. He offers his feet, then asks 448 to 'hold still' so he can lift her paws one at a time for Melody's attention. 

448 cooperates with this once she figures out what's up.

And then they can both have breakfast while Melody makes more tea!

Maybe Leareth can help her figure out how to find the 'streaming service' again and point out one of the therapy-related movies? "I mean, I'm guessing you'll want the laptop again after this, but I'd still like to be able to find it later." 

"You can have it if you want. I am probably still stuck on whatever I broke with the code editor and I can update my notes in the meantime, or do more training with 448." 

Despite not having even been present for the earlier explanation, Leareth successfully finds the page and navigates to one of the 'therapy procedurals' in less than five minutes. 

Neat! 

Once he's gone off to work on getting 448 to recognize a hand signal and associate it with the blanket-fetching, Melody tries for Dree again. 

Dree is now having breakfast! :I can come over as soon as I'm done eating. Apparently the House of Truth has been getting lots of questions about you and I posted that Leareth wants a programming tutor, so I'm going to go by a respondent's place to show them the way to your house for that on my way:

:Wow! That's amazing, I wasn't expecting a response anywhere near this fast. Leareth will appreciate it, and he seems to be having a good day. I've got some other questions but it can wait until you're here: 

:Well, you're very exciting, seeing as you're sliders! I'll be by in an hour tops:

The virtuous course of action would be to spend that hour on language practice, but Melody is sick of the stupid tutorial and it seems like prooobably watching something in the local language counts as some kind of practice? She will watch the therapy procedural. With subtitles on, because Leareth was poking at all the interactive bits and bobs and figured out how to activate them.